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Not surprisingly, Hodgson – who also scored Marske’s first Kerridge Cup century – was named League Cricket Conference National Club Cricketer of the Year.

Stockton’s 17-year-old opener Tom Hewison won our Young Player of the Year Award in a season which ended with him making his debut for Durham’s second team at Sussex. He marked the occasion with a first-innings hundred, and a half-century second time around.

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“There were probably two or three outstanding people recommended but Tom has played his games across a wide range from under-17s to the best league in the area and the county second team,” explained Durham’s director of cricket Geoff Cook, who helped judge the awards. “He’s managed to cope with all those levels and he’s a worthy winner.”

As one of only 16 North East Premier League players to make more than 500 runs in the competition last season, and having captained Durham’s Under-19s, Hewison is ambitious to play county cricket.

“I want to play as high as I can with Durham and see where it takes me,” he said.

“It would be perfect to play in front of the fans at the Riverside and hopefully it can happen to me one day.”

Hodgson, 30, spent his early years in the county system and says North East cricket is a good standard to develop at.

“I spent three years with the MCC Young Cricketers before I had my chance with Surrey and Yorkshire so I kind of had a feel for it,” he said. “It was a step towards being a professional and when you’re on a county staff, being around England players and playing against some, it was quite a good experience.

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“The standard of North East club cricket is actually quite good. I think the leagues are getting a lot stronger and we’re getting players from county teams like Yorkshire and Durham.”

The awards were presented at tea during Durham’s opening day of County Championship cricket this season.

“We’re delighted to support this award and the object is to get lots of cricketers affiliated with Durham, whether supporting or having aspirations to play for us,” said Cook, who has seen nine players go from the county’s youth set-up into the England team since they entered First-Class cricket in 1992.